Method of preparing forms and of printing.



Patented Nov. 2|, |899.

E. HETT.

METHDD 0F PREPARING FORMS AND 0F PRINTING.

(Application filed Nov. 1` 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet l,

(No Medial.)

ATTRNE S TH: Nonms PETERS ca. vuomLlTH 'wAsr-lmorou. o. c.

No. 637,560. Patented Nov. 2|, |899.

E. HETT METHOD DAF PREPARING FORMS AND 0F PRINTING.

(Application med Nov. 1, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

'r anni! PETERS w. PHufoLrrNo.. vymmunmn. unc.

PATENT Frio.

EDWARD HETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

lVlETHOD OF PREPARING FORMS AND OF PRINTIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,560, dated November21, 1899'.

Application filed November 1, 1899. Serial No. 735.446. (No model.)

To cvZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD HETT, a'citizen of the United States,residing at New York, (New Dorp, Staten Island,) in the county ofRichmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Methods of Preparing Printing-Forms and of Printing; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to methods of preparing printing-forms and ofprinting, and especially planographic and lithographie printing.

It has for its object to improve the character and reduce the cost ofprinting, and espe'- cially planographic and lithographie printing, andto make possible and practical and economical and successful multicolorand lithographic printing, and particularly on the rotary-pressprinciple.

It consists of the methods hereinafter claimed.

The accompanying drawings show-apparatus for planographic andlithographie printing of the best form at presentknow'n to me adapted tocarry out the method in view.

Figure l is a perspective view of the composite printing-form before thedesign has been transferred to it, certain parts being broken away atone end. It shows the printing-form as hollow and cylindrical and asapplied to and in place upon an interior form cylinder or support. Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the axis of the deviceshown in Fig. l, with the shaft of the transfer or printing press inplace in the formsupport. Fig. Sis an enlarged sectional view of a smallportion of the printing-form in place upon a form-support. The sectionis taken at right angles to the axis of the formsupport. Fig. 4 shows,diagrammatically, a multicolor planographic press in which a series ofthe printing-forms, each with its carrying-form support, is mounted.

The composite printing-form will be lirst described in the form in whichit is specifically shown in the drawings. Referring to Fig. 3, theprinting-form as there shown consists of a hollow base l0, preferably ofcopper, exteriorly cylindrical in shape and about one-quarter of an inchthick, and a separate removable outer coating adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, preferably of electrodeposited zinc ll. The copperbase 10 is a hollow tube that is cylindrical and of accurate shape andsize and finish and polish on the outside and is slightly tapering onthe inside. The outer surface of the copper shell has in its making beenturned and polished with absolute accuracy as to shape and size, so asto present a true cylinder of the proper predetermined printing shapeand diameter (when the printing-surface is upon it) to cooperate withthe impression -surface in the printing operation, for it is throughthis base that the working shape and size of the .printing-form aresecured 'and permanently maintained. The coating or surface ll may be ofany suitable material and may be applied in any suitable way. Thepreferred material is zinc and is preferably applied byelectrodeposition upon the outer surface of the copper base 10 after thelatter has been accurately shaped and polished. The zinc surface isdeposited in such a way as to adhere to the cylindrical copper base andto become substantially integral therewith, by

- which is meant that the surface and base are united togethersufficiently to make one part move with the other and practicallyconstitute one piece of metal and to constitute thereon a layer orcoating, preferably in any given case of predetermined thickness,preserving the shape of the base and constituting thereon aprinting-surface. This zinc layer or surface must be substantial enoughto reliably constitute the desired printingsurface, and in any givencase should be and preferably is of a predetermined thickness, so asfaithfully to produce, when combined with a base of predetermined size,by its outer surface the accurately-shaped printing-surface required andof the exact size required, adapting the composite printing-form as awhole to properly cooperate with the other parts of the press inattaining register and printing accurately. Fig. 3 indicates such asurface layer 11. I have found that the thickness of deposit that isobtained under the conditions specifically set out hereinafter isadmirably adapted to make the construction herein described suitable forplanographic IOO printing. The copper shell lO is preferably made to beslightly tapering or conical on the interior in order that it mayabsolutely and exactly itv the form-supporting cylinder` 12 and maybesupported substantially at every point by that formsupport and yet maybe readily removed from and replaced upon said support. In carrying outsome of the features of my invention the printingform is accuratelyadjusted and reliably held, both longitudinally and circum ferentially,with relation to the other parts of the press.

Means for accurately adjusting, both longitudinally andcircumferentially, and reliably holding the printing-form upon theform-support and the latter upon the shaft of the press, as well as themeans for removing the printing-form from the form-support and theformsupport from the shaft, are indicated in Figs. l and 2; but theirdetails form no part of the present invention, being claimed in otherpendingr applications. The printing-form is held in placecircumferentially on the formsupport by the spline 22 of the formertaking into a longitudinal groove in the latter, and it is held in placelongitudinally against the adjustable stop 23 by the clamps 24. Toremove the printing-form from the form-cylinder, release the clamps 2iand then turn the threaded bolt 25, on which is a traveling linger 26,which takes against the printing-form, starting it olf theforni-cylinder. To remove the form-cylinder from the shaft, unkey one orboth hubs 27 from the shaft, unscrew the other hub from theform-cylinder, and slip the latter off.

It will be observed that the printing-form shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3has a circumferentially-continuous curved outer surface for printing. Itwill also be observed that the printing-form is a hollow compositestructure having a surface of suitable printing material and a hollowstrengthening-base of a different material, the two being integrallyunited together. It will also be observed that this hollow compositeprinting-form is removable and replaceable on an interior form-supportand that the form-support is removable and replaceable on the shaft 13of the press. It will also be noted that in constructing the compositeprinting-form the copper shell or strengthening-base is constructed of apredetermined shape and dimensions that are fixed so as to permanentlyadapt the form to the cooperat-ing parts of the press, and to that endthe inner and outer surfaces of the copper base are with great caretrued and turned and polished and cleansed, all with substantialaccuracy, to the exact diameter that will adapt the printing-form as awhole, when iinished, to the press and will reliably and permanentlyattain and maintain the proper support and the proper printing andregister in the printing-press, and especially when a whole series ofsuch printing-forins are mounted successively, as shown in Fig. 4, andprint successively and in approximately instantascacco neous successionone color on top of another, as in a multicolorpress. It will also benoted that when a series of such printing-forms are combined in a pressit will not be essential that all the forms be of the same predeterminedsize, as one form may be a multiple of another or of a series of designsof the same size circumferentially, or if a series of design groups ofthe same size circumferentially are arranged circumferentially on oneform the circumference of another form might equal that fraction of thefirst form occupied by one design or a group of designs or any multipleof such fraction. All that is essential is that each form should be of apredetermined relative size, such that the design or designs carried bythe form will print and register with the design or designs carried bythe other forms. It will also be noted that when a base is thus onceaccurately shaped and sized such a thin removable coating or surface maybe applied thereto as not to materially alter the predetermined shapeand size of the base, in which case a printed form of substantially thesame predetermined size and shape as the base is obtained, which willproperly cooperate with the similar form or forms and print in registerin a press. Preferably, however, a predetermined thickness of aremovable coating or printing-surface is applied to the accuratelyshaped and sized base, thereby obtaining a printing-form ofpredetermined size and shape, the size of which, though different fromthat of the base, is determined by the size of the base. It will also benoted that while the thickness is preferably predetermined it need notbe the same for all the forms to be used in cooperation in a press. Forinstance, where a series of bases are of different proportions, as aboveset forth, the thickness of the coatings should vary in the sameproportions. It will also be noted that the thickness of coating on onecooperating series of printing-forms need not be the same as thethickness of coating on another series, even though the same bases beused in the dierent series, oreven though the different series be usedin the same press. When, however, the coating on one of acooperatingseries of forms becomes worn or forany other reason needs to bereplaced, if the old base or anotherof the same predetermined size isused in the said cooperating series the new coating must be of the samepredetermined thickness as the old one. It will also be noted that wherea coating of substantial thickness is applied to a base ofpredeterminedsize and shape its thickness in lineal measure need not be known, as thethickness may be determined in any suitable way, it being only essentialto determine the relative thickness of the coatings to be applied to aseries-of bases having predetermined relative sizes, which, with theircoatings, are to form a cooperating series of printing-forms adapted toprint in register in a press. When a zinc coating is applied byelectrodeposition, its thickness may IOO IIO

tion in the bath all of which can be workedout or determinedexperimentally by the practical printer and may vary greatly, althoughthe thickness of the coating may vary,as above set forth. I have found ahalf-hours treatment in the zinc-bath,with a suitable solution andcurrent,produces a satisfactory thickness of zinc surface on the smoothexterior of a copper tube and provides a satisfactory surface for thepurposes ofl planographic printing. Although the thickness of this zincexterior surface in lineal measure need not be known, for reasons abovegiven, that preferably used by me has been found to approximate twoone-thousandths of an inch, more or less. Itis to be noted that a merechange of the color of a cylinder'in the bath from copper color to zinccolor is ordinarily not enough. Such a change of color occurs almost atonce, and is quite complete in a minute or two under the conditions ofsolution and of current, of which I have found a full halfhourstreatment the best, as already stated. For the purposes ofrelief-printin g (where the planographic surface, for example, after thedesign is transferred to it, is developed by deep etching into arelief-surface) the zinc surface should be thicker than is necessary forplanographic printing. It is desirable also in case of cylindrical tubesthat the deposit should be uniform in thickness, and to that end I havefound it necessary in the case of cylindrical printing-tubes to keep thesame in slow constant rotation underneath the surface of the bath andequably opposite the anodes. It is also to be noted that the char'-acter of the deposit is preferablysuch as will at once adapt the surfaceto receive a lithographic drawing or transfer and to be thereafterdeveloped into a printing-surface for that design of the characterdesired. In this way a fresh and unused separate printingsurface-canwithout difficulty be applied to the outer polished surface of a givenbasic copper tube time after time with such accuracy as to thickness,dac., that the resulting succession of composite printing-forms willreliably and accurately coperate with the other forms of the same seriesand the other parts of the press and register with one another in theprinting without remeasurements or readjustments or reconstruction. Thusif the entire printingsurface is removed from the copper base after aprintingjob is finished without removing any of the copper base, (butinstead preserving its original 'integrityv in shape,) then a freshprinting-surface can be renewed on the same base, thereby producing anew printing-form of predetermined size adapted to coperate with similarforms vand print in register. While, as above set forth, thepredetermined thickness of the coating and the predetermined size of thebase may be varied as desired, I find in practice that it is moreconvenient and economical and also that better and more reliable resultsare obtained when the size and dimensions of the base are predeterminedand fixed and the renewed coating or printing surface is of the samepredetermined thickness as the one taken off'. When this practice isfollowed, it will be noted that the removal and renewal of theprinting-surface are accomplished without substantially affecting theshape or dimensions of the printing-form as they existed before suchremoval and renewal. I also find it preferable in practice to make theseries of bases intended to coperate in a press all of the samepredetermined size and always apply to them -or renew on them a coatingof the same predetermined thickness, as by such practice a series ofidentical and interchangeable printing-forms are provided which can beapplied to the same support or to different supports in the same pressor in duplicate presses without discrimination or confusion or liabilityto error in the attainment of register. It-will also be seen that whenfor a given press (multicolor or otherwise) a copper base has once beenaccurately and painstakingly shaped and sized and finished and adaptedwith a view to its exact adaptation to print and register in that pressafter receiving a separate printing-surface of a predetermined thicknessthen an indefinitely numerous succession of printing-forms may readilyand economically be made therewith without any further adjustments oradaptations being required, and each with a fresh and unusedprinting-surface,and simply by removing from said base and integrallyrenewing thereon a separate removable printing-surface, as described,without substantially affecting the shape or dimensions of the form, andthis can be done while employing such material for the different partsof the composite printing-form and such a shape of printing-form as tocombine strengthl with lightness without sacrificing surface-printingcharacter, whereby ease of handling on the press and absolute integrityof shape on and off the press are combined, and both with cheapness andconvenience in the construct-ion and preparation of the printing-forms.

My improvement renders multicolor-printing practicable, solving many ofthe most serious problems that have stood in the way of the practicalattainment of that end.

Fig. 4 represents a multicolor planographic printing press, showingcombinations in which my improvements are of an especial value andadvantage and have peculiar cooperations and results. 14 is the frame ofthe machine. l5 is the paper-roll. 16 is the impression-drum. ll are theseries of composite printing-forms arranged on the impression-face ofthe drum. 12 are the series of the form-supports; 13, the series ofshafts carrying the form-supports; 17, the groups of inking-rollers, onegroup for each printing- IOO IIO

forni; 18, the groups of dampening-rollers, one group foreachprinting-form; 19,the pressurebars for removing the printing-forms intoand out of contact with the im pression-dru m when operated to that endby the lever 20 through suitable knuckle-joint levers 28. The detailmechanisms of this printing-press form no part of the present invention,but are claimed in other pending applications. The shafts 13 are carriedin sliding boxes 2l, which are secured to the pressure-bars 19. Vhen itis desired to remove the form-supports or printing-forms from the press,the nuts on the outer ends of the pressure-bars 19 are unscrewed and thesliding boxes are slid off the ends of the pressure-bars and out oftheir slideways in the frame of the machine, when the sliding boxes canbe slipped off of the shaft 13, and the printing-form and theformsupports can be taken off of the shaft, or the printing-form alonecan be slipped off. It will be observed that the printing-forms arearranged in series around the im pression-face of the drinn and arecarried in propel' position by a. series of form-supports arrangedaround the impression-drum. It will also be observed that theaccurately-maintained diameter of the printing-forms and their absoluteuniformity of surface and their strong and reliable support by the formsupport against bending or yielding at any point enable accurate andregistering and rapid printing to be done with uniformity of pressureand perfection of work and with economy of manipulative preparation forthe work. Then the entire edition is printed, the printing-forms areremoved from the press, the old design or ink thereof is washed off withturpentine or benzene in the usual way, and the printing-forms arewashed with a suitable dilute acid or other agent, such as will removethe coating which had acted as thel printing surface and leave the baseun.- touched, and therefore unaltered in shape or size or character ofsurface. I have found that this can be practically and economicallyaccomplished in the case of a zinc surface upon a copper shell by theuse of dilute nitric acid run quickly over the zinc surface with asponge or brush and washed off with an abundance of water at once. Everytrace of zinc can be thus removed in a few seconds from a large coppertube, as will`bendicated by the color. I then quickly rub the coppersurface with a littlepowdered puinice to clean it, and when it isperfectly bright and clean it is plunged into the Zinc-bath under thesame conditions as before to receive another planographic coating ofzinc, which, as already described, may be and is preferably of the samepredetermined thickness as before and does not substantially affect theshape or dimensions of the form. It is then mounted in thetransfer-press and a new design is suit-ably transferred to it and it isetched and prepared for printing as before. The desired addition of thenew design is printed from it in the same printing-press as before, andthe zinc printing-surface'is removed again by washing with suitableacid, as before, when a third fresh and unused zinc printing-surface isapplied electrolytically under the same conditions as before, and so on.After the design or drawing has been transferred in the lithographie orin any suitable manner to the fresh planographic sur-y face of theprinting-form that surface may be developed into a printing-surface forthat design of any desired character. For example, it may be developedby the ordinary light etching employed inlithography into aplanographic-printing surface for that design, and I prefer so .todevelop it; but it may also and equally be developed by deep etching andby the suitable use of a routing-out machine into a relief-printingsurface for the design. In the latter case dampening mechanisms are notrequired in the printing-press. The etching or routing should of coursenot be deep enough to eut into the copper base. In both cases andequally the parts of the original planographic surfaces that in thedeveloped printing-surfaces do the actual printing lie all of them inthe same plane-to wit, the plane of the original planographic surfacewhen it receives the transferl prior to its development into aprinting-surface.

I have shown in the drawings and described heretofore in connection withthe drawings the invention in the best form in which it is at presentknown to me. Many changes and modifications, however, might be madewithout departing from the invention, as will be indicated by theomissions, as well by the inclusions, of the claims hereinafter made. Ihave specifically described herein the best methods and apparatus knownto me for car- 'rvinfr out the inventionbut for the ur oses for many ofthe claims hereinafter made I do not wish to be limited to thosespecific details.

Among the advantages of the invention, especially when practiced in itspreferred form, are these. The base of the printingform, which givesaccuracy and integrity of shape and size and gives body and stabilityand support to the outer and printing part or surface, may be lnade ofmaterial which would not be suitable for a printing-surface or adaptedto receive a drawing or transfer in the lithographie manner or to bethereafter developed into a printing-surface of the character desired,but which may nevertheless be better for giving durability andpermanence and for shape and size-giving and strength-giving purposes,and the outer or printing part or surface upon it, which must be made ofmaterial suitable and in a condition suitable for printing, may be thin,so that while answering fully the purpose of a planographic surface forreceiving a transfer of a design and being developed into aprinting-surface for that design of the character desired and for theprinting of a full edition of one design it may then readily and IOO IIO

-attack the one and not the other. advantage is that the workman. can bythe economically be wholly effaced or removed, as by acids, from theinner part or body or base and an entirely new and fresh outer part orsurface of the material suitable for the printing may be applied to orrenewed upon the base as at first, and this eacement and renewal of theouter surface of the composite printing-form may be repeated anindefinite number of times and for every new design, and meanwhile shapeand size and register having been once attained are reliably andeconomically maintained. The advantage in such case of having the innerbody-giving part or base of the printing-form made of different materialfrom the outer part or printt ing is that by proper selection ofeffacing or removing agents, as of acids, the outer surface may bewholly and reliably taken off or removed (after each printing job isprinted) without taking off. any of the inner body-giving base, andlthus uniform and reliably uniform working dimensions of the compositeprinting form or cylinder when it is ready for its printing work can beattained and maintained, a matter of moment and importance, especiallyin any effort to apply the rotarypress principle to planographic orrelief printing work. Thus solid and substantial and unyieldingprinting-forms reliably maintaining their absolute integrity ofpredetermined shape and size, especially under the vicissitudes ofremoval and renewal of the printingsurface, the strains of handling outof the presses, and the pressure of use in the transfer and printingpresses, may be attained with great economy of surface material and witha clean unused fresh planographic surface for each new design or job ofprinting, and these advantages, with other of the hollow compositeprinting form or tube, may be attained without sacrificing the solidunitary integral character of the hollow composite form or tube as awhole.

In that form of the invention in which a zinc printing-surface isapplied by electrodeposition the zinc when properly so applied is thin,may be made continuous over the entire surface, is adherent to andintegral with the copper and coherent throughout its own mass, issuitably absorbent, even and uniform, without corrugations or streaks,ruts or nodules, is Apure and clean, andin a surface condition admirablyadapted to the requirements of planographic transferring, and this atonce and without the necessity of any sand-blasting process or othermechanical or chemical manipulations or preparations. c

In that form of the invention in which the base is of one material, asof copper, and the printing-surface is of another material, as of zinc,there is the especial advantage that the printing-surface may be quicklyand readily removed or eaced without removing any of the base by theselection of an acid which under the conditions of its'application willAnother difference in color readily know when the printing-surface isentirely removed. Other advantages have been stated heretofore.

In that form of the invention in which the printing-surface when securedis curved and circumferentially continuous special advantages reside.Every part of the surface may be utilized. The endless rolling contactcharacterizing the printing gives rapid and perfect results. Theprinting-forms may be used interchangeably, which is especiallyimportant in multicolor-presswork. A larger variety of designs can beprinted. Register is more easily obtained.

In that form of the invention in which the peculiar printing-form iscombined with an interior form-support certain special and peculiaradvantages are obtained. Solidity and strength and reliability in theworking parts, with lightness and cheapness and perfection ofprintingsurface and ease of manipulations of the same, are attained, andespecially in the combinations involving a series of such form-supportsand a series of such printingforms are the full and iinal benets andadvantages found. The development of my Iplanographic surfaces, havingthe design transferred to them into planographic-printing surfaces,contribute also toward a great advance in the art of planographic orlithographic printing.

By my invention the process of the simultaneous printing of many colorsby as many different printing-forms in one and the same press is madepossible and practical in the printing art and especially in theplanographic art. in approximately instantaneous succession of manydifferent colors-as, say, fifteen-in the planographicart and especiallyin lithographie are such as to make the change revolutionary in the art.The results which are secured in efficiency, capacity, and economy aregreatly in advance of anything known inthe art. A single press-such asis shown in the drawings, Fig. 4-Will do the work and take the place ofiifteen presses now in use in printing lithographs in fifteencolors-that is to say, this one press will print fifteen colorssimultaneously, While this work would require fifteen presses of thepresent style, each one yworking separately and printing a separatecolor. Moreover, so much time is saved in the handling of the printsthat it is estimated that such a press as is shown in Fig. t will printabout four thousand seven hundred complete fifteen-color lithographs inthe same time that it would require one of the presentstyle presses withthe ordinary {iat-stone and the reciprocating bed to print seven hundredcopies in a single color. multicolor-press printing fifteen colors inapproximately instantaneous succession will therefore be seen to beabout one hundred times greater than that ofthe old presses in printinga fifteen-color job. In addition to this further economy is secured inthe mat- IOO The advantages of this printing Irs The capacity of the terof space for the presses, in the matter of labor in handling the pressesand the prints between printing," and in the mattei' of time in turningout the work. The present invention attains in the best way known to methe peculiarity of a curved lithographic-printing form having acireumferentially continuous or unbroken lithographic-printing surface,with the result of making rotary-press printing for multicolorlithographic work possible and practicable.

My improved apparatus sct forth herein is not claimed in thisapplication, but is made the subject of another application filedsimultaneously herewith.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms which consistsin making a suitable base for the printing-form, integrally applying tosaid base a separate removable coating, making the said coatingintoaprinting-surface, entirely removing the coating from the base, andintegrally applying to the base a second removable coating adapted to bemade into a printing-surface, a fresh and unused surface being thuspresented foreach design.

2. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms which consistsin making a suitable base for the prin tin g-form, integrally applyingto said base a separate removable coating, making the said coating intoa printing-surface, entirely removing the coating from the base, andintegrally applying to the base a second removable coating adapted to bemade into a printing-surface, a fresh and unused surface beingthuspresented for each design, and making said second coating into aprinting-surface.

3. The improvement in the art of preparing printing forms which consistsin taking a printing-form composed of a base and an exteriorlyintegrally applied removable coating made or adapted to be made into aprintingsurface, entirely removing the coating from the base, andintegrally applying to the base a second removable coating adapted to bemade into a printing-surface, afresh and unused surface being t-huspresented for each design.

et. The improvement in the art of preparing printing forms whichconsists in taking a printing-form composed of a base and an eX-teriorly integrally applied removable coating made or adapted to be madeinto a printing-surface, entirely removing the coating from the base,and integrally applying to the base a second removable coating adaptedto be made into a printing-surface, a fresh and unused surface beingthus presented for each design, and making said second coating into aprinting-surface.

5. Theimprovementin the artof preparing printing-forms which consists inshaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form of predetermined shapeand dimensions, integrally applying to said base a separate thinremovable coating, making the said coating into a printing-surface,entirely removing the coating from the base Without substantiallyaffecting the shape or dimensions of the base, and integrally applyingto the base a second thin removable coating, adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, a fresh and unused surface being thus presented foreach design, the size of the printing-form being substantiallydetermined by the size of the base.

6. Theimprovementin the art of preparing printing-forms which consistsin shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form of predeterminedshape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base a separate thinremovable coating, making the said coating into a printing-surface,entirely removing the coating from the base without substantiallyaffecting the shape or dimensions of the base, and integrally applyingto the base a second thin removable coating, adapted to be made intoaprinting-surface, a fresh and unused surface beingthus presented foreach design,the size of the printing-form being substantially determinedby the size of the base, and making said second coating into aprinting-surface.

7. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms which consistsin making a suitable base for the printing-form, integrally applying tosaid base by electrodeposition a separate removable zinc coating, makingthe said coating into a printing-surface, entirely removing the coatingfrom the base, and integrally applying to the base by electrodepositionasecond removable zinc coating adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, a fresh and unused surface being thus presented foreach design.

8. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms which consistsin taking a printing-form composed of a base and an exteriorlyintegrally electrically deposited removable zinc coating made or adaptedto be made into a printing-surface, entirely removing the coating fromthe base, and integrally applying to the base by electrodeposition asecond removable zinc coating adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, a fresh and unused surface being thus presented foreach design.

9. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms which consistsin shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form of predeterminedshape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base a separateremovable coating, making the said coating into a printing-surface,entirely removing the coating from the base without substantiallyaffecting the shape or dimensions of the base and integrally applying tothe base a second removable coating, adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, without substantially affecting the shape ordimensions of the printing-form, a fresh and unused surface being thuspresented for each design, whereby the proper shape and size ofprinting-form for exact reg- IOO IIO

IZO

ister and proper printing in a press having been once accuratelyattained are permanently maintained throughout subsequent printingoperations of the form.

10. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms Whichconsists in shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form ofpredetermined shape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable coating, making the said coating into aprinting-surface, entirely removing the coating from the base Withoutsubstantially affecting the shape or dimensions of the base andintegrally applying to the base a second removable coating, adapted tobe made into a printing-surface, Without substantially affecting theshape or dimensions of the printing-form, a fresh and unused surface being thus presented for each design, whereby the proper shape and sizeof printing-form for exact register and proper printing in a press having been once accurately attained are permanently maintained throughoutsubsequent printing operations of the form, and making said secondcoating into a printing-surface.

11. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms whichconsists in shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form ofpredetermined shape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable coating of predetermined thickness,making the saidcoating into a printing-surface, entirely removing the coating from thebase without substantially affecting the shape or dimensions of thebase, and integrally applying to the base a second removable coating ofthe same predetermined thickness adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, Without substantially affecting the shape ordimensions of the printing-form, a fresh and unused surface being thuspresented for each design,

movable coating of predetermined thickness,

' making the said coating into a printing-surface, entirely removing thecoating from the base Without substantially aecting the shape ordimensions of the base, and integrally applying to the base a secondremovable coating of the same predetermined thickness adapted to be madeinto a printing-surface, Without-substantially affecting the shape ordimensions of the printing-form, a fresh and unused surface being thuspresented for each design, whereby the proper shape and size ofprinting-form for exact register and proper printing in a press havingbeen once accurately attained are permanently maintained throughoutsubsequent printing operations of the form, and making said secondcoating into a printing-surface.

13. rlhe improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms whichconsists in shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form ofpredetermined shape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable coating of predetermined thickness, making the saidcoating into a printing-surface, entirely removing the coating from the-base Without substantially affecting the shape or dimensions of thebase, and integrally applying to the base a second removable coating ofpredetermined thickness adapted to be made into a printing-surface,l thesize of the printing-form being substantially determined by the size ofthe-base and a fresh or unused surface being thus presented for eachdesign.

14E. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms whichconsists in shaping the strengthening-base of a prin ting-form ofpredetermined shape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable coating of predetermined thickness, making the saidcoating into a printing-surface, entirely removing the coating from thebase without substantially affecting the shape or dimensions of the baseand integrally applying to the base a second removable coating ofpredetermined thickness adapted to be made into a printing-surface, thesize of the printing-form being substantially determined by the size ofthe base and afresh or unused surface being thus presented for eachdesign, and making said second coating into a printing-surface.

15. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms whichconsists in shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form ofpredetermined shape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base byelectrodeposition a separate removable zinc coating of Apredeterminedthickness, making the said coating into a printing-surface, entirelyremoving the coating from the base Without substantially affecting theshape or dimensions of the base and integrally applying to the base byelectrodeposi tion a second removable' zinc coating of the samepredetermined thickness.

16. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms whichconsists in shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form ofpredetermined shape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base byelectrodeposition a separate removable zinc coating of predeterminedthickness, making the said coating into a printing-surface, entirelyremoving the coating from the base Without substantially affecting theshape or dimensions of the base, integrally applying to the base byelectrodeposition a second removable zinc coating of the samepredetermined thickness, and making said second coating into aprinting-surface.

17. The improvement in the art of prepar- IOO ing printing-forms whichconsists in shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form ofpredetermined shape and dimensions, integrally applying to said base byelectrodeposition a separate removable zinc eoatin g of predeterminedthickness, making the said coating into a printing-surface, entirelyremoving the coating from the base Without substantially affecting theshape or dimensions of thebase and integrally applying to the base byelectrodeposition a second removable zinc coating of predeterminedthickness adapted to be made into a printing-surface, the size of theprinting-form being substantially determined bythe size of the base anda fresh and unused surface being thus presented foreach design.

1S. The improvement in the art of preparing printing-forms whichconsists in shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form ofpredetermined shape and dimensions, integraily applying to said base byelectrodeposition a separate removable zinc coating of predeterminedthickness, making the said coating into a printing-surface, entirelyremoving the coating from the base Without substantially affecting theshape or dimensions of the base and integrally applying to the base byelectrodeposition a second removable zinc coating of predeterminedthickness adapted to be made into a printing-surface, the size of theprinting-form being substantially determined by the size of the base anda fresh and unused surface being thus presented foreach design, andmaking said second coating into a printing-surface.

19. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in making asuitable base for the printing-form, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable coating, making the said coating into aprinting-surface, printing the desired edition therefrom in the press,entirely removing the coating from the base, and integrally applying tothe base a second removable coating adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, a fresh and unused surface being thus presented foreach design.

20. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in making asuitable base for the printing-form, integrally applying tosaid base aseparate removable coating, making the said coating into aprinting-surface, printing the desired edition therefrom in the press,entirely removing the coating from the base, and integrally applying tothe base a second removable coating adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, a fresh unused surface being thus presented for eachdesign, and making said second coating into a printing-surface.

2l. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in taking aprinting-form composed of a base and an cxteriorly integrally appliedremovable coat-ing, made or adapted to be made into a printing-surface,entirely removing the coating from the base, and integrally applying tothe base a second removable coating adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, a fresh and unused surface being thus presented foreach design, and making said second coating into a printing-sur face.

22. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in shaping thestrengtheningbase of a printingform of predetermined shape anddimensions, integrally applying to said base a separate thin removablecoating, making the said coating into a printing-surface, printing thedesired edition therefrom in the press, entirely removing the coatingfrom the base Without substantially affecting the shape or dimensions ofthe base and integrally applying to the base a second thin removablecoating, adapted to be made into a printing-surface, a fresh and unusedsurface being thus presented for each design, and the size of theprinting-form being substantially determined by the size of the base.

23. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in making asuitable base for the printing-form, integrally applying to said base byelectrodeposition a separate removable zinc coating, making the saidcoating into a printing-surface, printing the desired edition therefromin the press, entirely removing the coating from the base, andintegrally applying to the base by electrodeposition a second removablezinc coating adapted to be made into a printing-surface, a fresh andunused surface being thus presented for each design.

24. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in shaping thestrengtheningbase of a printing form of predetermined shape anddimensions, integrally applying to said base a separate removablecoating, making the said coating into a printing-surface, printing thedesired edition therefrom in the press, entirely removing the coatingfrom the base Without substantially aecting the shape or dimensions ofthe base and integrally applying to the base a second removable coating,adapted to be made into a printing-surface, without substantiallyaiecting the shape or dimensions of the printing-form, a fresh andunused surface being thus presented for cach design, whereby the propershape and size of printing-form for exact register and proper printingin a press having been once accurately attained are permanentlymaintained throughout subsequent printing operations of the form.

25. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in shaping thestrengtheningbase of a printing-form of predetermined shape anddimensions, integrally applying to said base a separate removablecoating of predetermined thickness, making the said coating into aprinting-surface, printing the desired edition therefrom in the press,entirely removing the coating from the base without substantiallyaecting the shape or dimensions of the base and integrally applying tothe base a second removable coating of the ICO IOS

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same predetermined thickness, adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, Without substantially affecting the shape ordimensions of the printing-form, a fresh and unused surface being thuspresented for each design, :whereby the proper shape and size ofprinting-form for exact register and proper printing in a press havingbeen once accurately attained are permanently maintained throughoutsubsequent printing operations of the form.

26. The improvement in the art of preparing planographic-printing formswhich consists in making a suitable base for the printing-form,integrally applying to said base a separate removable planographiccoating, making the said coating into a planographicprinting surface,entirely removing the coating from the base, and integrally applying tothe base a second removable .planographic coating adapted to be madeinto a planographic-printing surface, a fresh and unused planographicsurface being thus presented for each design.

27. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in making asuitable base for the printing-form, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable planographic coating, making the said coating into aplanographic-printing surface, printing the desired y edition therefromin the press7 entirely removing the coating from the base, andintegrally applying to the base a secondy removable planographic coatingadapted to be made into a planographic-printing surface, a fresh andunused planographic surface being thus presented for each design.

2S. The improvement in the art of preparing planographic-printing formsWhich consists in making a suitable base for the printing-form,integrally applying to said base by electrodeposi tion a separateremovable planographic coating, making the said coating into aplanographic-printing surface, entirely removing the coating from thebase, and integrally applying to the base a second removableplanographic coating adapted to be made into a planographic-printingsurface, a fresh and unused planographic surface being thus presentedfor each design.V

29. The improvement in the art of preparing planographic-printing formswhich consists in making a suitable base for the printing-form,integrally applying to said base a separate removable planographiccoating, suitably placing the picture or design on said coating andetching and preparing the coating for printing, entirely removing thecoating from the base by Washing with suitable acid, and integrallyapplying to the base a second removable planographic coating adapted tobe made into a planographic-printing surface, a fresh and unusedplanographic surface being thus presented for each design.

30. The improvement in the art of preparing planographic-printing formswhich consists in making a suitable base for the printing-form,integrally applying to said base a separate removable planographiccoating of a different material from the base, making the said coatinginto a planographic-printing surface, entirely removing the coating fromthe base, and integrally applying to the base a second removableplanographic coating of a different material from the base and adaptedto be made into a planographic-printing surface, a fresh and unusedplanographic su rface being thus presented for each design.

3l. The improvement in the art of preparing planographic-printing formswhich consists in making a suitable base for the printing-form,integrally applying to said base b y electrodeposition a separateremovable planographic coating of a different material from the base,suitably placing the picture or design on said coating and etching andpreparing the coating for printing, entirely removing the coating fromthe base by Washing with suitable acid, integrally applying to said baseby electrodeposition a second removable planographic coating of adifferent material from the base and adapted to be made into aprinting-surface, a fresh and unused surface being thus presented foreach design.

32. The improvementin the art of printing, which consists in shaping thestrengtheningbases of a series of printing-forms of predetermined shapeand dimensions fixed so as to adapt the forms to the cooperating partsof the press, integrally applying to said bases separate removableplanographic surfaces, suitably placing the designs for the severalcolors of the picture on said several surfaces in accurate and relatedregister, and developing the several surfaces into printing-surfaces forthe several designs of the character desired, printing the desirededition therefrom in accurate and related register, removing theprinting-surfaces from the bases Without substantially affecting theshapes or dimensions of the bases, integrally applying second removableplanographic surfaces to said bases Without substantially affecting theshapes or dimensions of the printing-forms, said planographic surfacesbeing adapted to be made With fresh and unused printing-surfaces for usein printing in accurate and related register.

33. The improvement in the art of planographic printing, which consistsin shaping the strengthening-bases of a series of printingforms ofpredetermined shape and dimensions fixed so as to permanently adapt theforms to the coperating parts of the press, integrally applying to saidbases separate removable planographic-printing surfaces,suitably placingthe designs for the several colors of the IIO picture on said severalsurfaces inaccurate and related register, removing the printingsurfacesfrom the bases Without substantially affecting the shapes or dimensionsof the bases, integrally applying second removable printing-surfaces tosaid bases Without substantially aecting the shapes or dimensions of theprinting'- forms, suitably placing the designs for the several colors ofanother picture on said several second surfaces, and so on, whereby theproper shapes and sizes of the printing-forms for exact register andproper printing in the press having been once accurately attained arepermanently maintained throughout the subsequent printing operations ofthe forms and fresh and unused planographic-printin g surfaces arepresented by the printing-formsfor each new picture or design to beprinted, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

34. The improvement in the art of printing which consists in shaping thestrengtheningbase of a printing-form of predetermined shape anddimensions fixed so as to permanently adapt the form to the cooperatingparts of the press, integrally applying to said base a separateremovable planographic surface, suitably placing the picture or designon said surface and developing the surface into a printing-surface forthe design of the character desired, printing the desired editiontherefrom in the press, removing the printing-surface from the basewithout substantiall y affecting the shape or dimensions of the base,integrally applying a second removable planographie surface to said basewithout substantially affecting the shape or dimensions of theprinting-form, suitably placing another picture or design on said secondsurface, and so on, whereby the proper shape and size of printing-formfor exact register and proper printingin the press having been onceaccurately attained are permanently maintained throughout the Subsequentprinting operations of the form and a fresh and unused planographicsurface is presented bythe printingform foreach new picture or design tobe transferred and printed, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

35. The improvement inthe art of planographic printing which consists inshaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form of predetermined shapeand dimensions fixed so as to permanently adapt the form to thecooperating parts of the press, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable planographic-printin g surface, suitably placing thepicture or design on said surface and etching and preparing the surfacefor printing, printing the desired edition therefrom in the press,removing the printing-surface from the base without substantiallyaffecting the shape or dimensions of the base, integrally applying asecond removable printing-surface to said base withoutsubstantiallyaffecting the shape or dimensions of the printing-form, suitably placinganother picture or design on said sec` ond surface, and so on, wherebythe proper shape and size of printing-form for exact register and properprinting in the press having been once accurately attained arepermanentlymaintained throughout the subsequent printing operations ofthe form and a fresh and unused planographic-printing surface ispresented by the printing-form for each new picture or design to beprinted, substantially predetermined shape and dimensions fixed so as topermanently adapt the form to the cooperating parts of the press,integrally applying to said base by electrodeposition a separateremovable planographic-printing surface, suitably placing the picture ordesign on said surface and etching and preparing the surface forprinting, printing the desired edition therefrom in the press, removingthe printing-surface from the base without substantially affecting theshape or dimensions of the base, integrally applying byelectrodeposition a second removable printing-surface to said baseWithoutsubstantially affecting the shape or dimensions of theprintingform, suitably placing another picture or design on said secondsurface, and so on, whereby the proper shape and size of printing-formfor exact register and proper printing in the press having been onceaccurately attained are permanently maintained throughout the subsequentprinting operations of the form and a fresh and unused electrodepositedplanographic-printing surface is presented by the printing-forni foreach new picture or design to be printed, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

37. The improvement in the art of planographic printing which consistsin shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form of predeterminedshape and dimensions fixed so as to permanently adapt the form to thecooperating parts of the press, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable planographie-printing surface, suitably placing theIOO IOS

picture or design on said surface and etching IIO substantiallyaffecting the shape or dimensions of the printing-form, suitably placinganother picture or design on said second surface, and so on, whereby theproper shape and size of printing-form for exact register and properprinting in the press having been once accurately attained arepermanently maintained throughout the subsequent printing operations ofthe form and a fresh and unused planographic-printing surface ispresented by the printing-form for each new picture or design to beprinted, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

38. The improvement in the art of planographie printing which consistsin shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form of predeterminedshape and dimensions fixed so as to permanently adapt the form to thecameo coperating parts of the press, integrally applying to said base aseparate removable planographic-printing surface of a different materialfrom the base, suitably placing the picture or design on said surfaceand etching and preparing the surface for printing, printing the desirededition therefrom in the press, removing the printing-surface from thebase Without substantially affecting the shape or dimensions of thebase, integrally applying a second removable printing-surface to saidbase of a different material from the base Without substantiallyaffecting the shape or dimensions of the printing-form, suitably placinganother picture or design' on said second surface, and so on, wherebythe proper shape and size of printing-form for exact register and properprinting in the press having been once accurately attained arepermanently maintained through the subsequent printing operations of theform and a fresh and unused planographic-printing surface is presentedby theprinting-form for each new picture or design to be printed,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

39. The improvement in the art of planographic printing which consistsin shaping the strengthening-base of a printing-form of predeterminedshape and dimensions xed so as to permanently adapt the form to thecooperatingl parts of the press, integrally applying to said base byelectrodeposition a separate removable planographic printing surface ofa different material from the base, suitably placing the picture ordesign on said surface and etching and preparing the surface forprinting, printing the desired edition therefrom in the press, removingthe printing-surface from the base by washing with suitable acidswithout substantially affecting the shape or dimensions of the base,integrally applying by electrodeposition a second removableprinting-surface to said base and of a different material from the base,Without substantially affecting the shape or dimensions of the printingform, suitably placing another picture or design on said second surface,and so on, whereby, the proper shape and size of printing-form for exactregister and proper printingin the press having been once accuratelyattained are permanently maintained through the subsequent printingoperations of the form and a fresh and unused planographic-printingsurface is presented by the printing-form for each new picture or designto be printed, substantially as and for thepurposes set' forth.

40. Tlieiniprovement in the art of printing, which consists in shapingthe strengtheningbases of a series of printing-forms of predeterminedshape and dimensions fixed so as to adapt the forms to the cooperatingparts of the press, integrally applying to said bases separate removableplanographic surfaces, suitably placing the designs for the severalcolors of the picture on saidseveral surfaces in accurate and relatedregister, and developing the several surfacesinto printing-surfaces vforthe several designs of the character desired, printing the desirededition therefrom in accurate and related register and in approximatelyinstantaneous succession, removing the printing-surfaces from the baseswithout substantially affecting the shapes or dimensions of the bases,integrally applying a second removable planographic surface to saidbases without substantially affecting the shapes or dimensions of theprinting-forms, suitably placing the designs for the several colors ofanother picture on said several second surfaces, and so on, whereby theproper shapes and sizes of the printing-forms for exact register andproper printing in approximately instantaneous succession in the presshaving been once accurately attained are permanently maintainedthroughout the subsequent printing operations of the forms and fresh andunused planographic surfaces are presented by the printing-forms foreach new picture or design to be transferred and printed, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

4l. The improvement in the art of planographic printing, which consistsin shaping the strengthening-bases of a series of printing-forms ofpredetermined shape and dimensions fixed so as to permanently adapt theforms to the cooperating parts of the press, integrally applying to saidbases separate removable planographicAprinting surfaces, suitablyplacing the designs for the several colors of the picture on saidseveral surfaces in accurate and related register, and etching andpreparing the surfaces for printing, printing the desired editiontherefrom in accurate and related register and in approximatelyinstantaneous succession, removing the printingsurfaces from the baseswithout substantially affecting the shapes or dimensions of the bases,integrally applying a second removable printing-surface to said baseswithout substantially aecting the shapes or dimensions of theprinting-forms, suitably placing the designs for the several colors ofanother picture on said several second surfaces, and so on, whereby theproper shapes and sizes of the printing-forms for exact register andproper printing in approximately instantaneous succession in the presshaving been once accurately attained are permanently maintainedthroughout the subsequent printing operations of the forms and fresh andunused planographic-printing surfaces are presented bythe printing-formsfor each new picture or design to be printed, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD HETT.

Witnesses:-

FRANK D. BLAcKIsToNE, NICHOLAS M. GooDLE'rr, Jr.

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